Flush apparatus

ABSTRACT

A flush apparatus includes a solenoid valve, a driving circuit for providing a driving power to the solenoid valve, a battery, a solar cell electrically connected to the battery, and a control module electrically connected to the driving circuit for providing at least one control signal to the driving circuit to control ON/OFF of the driving circuit. The solar cell and the battery are electrically connected to a power output terminal in parallel, and the power output terminal is electrically connected to the driving circuit directly for providing the driving power to the driving circuit.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 097135725 filed in Taiwan, Republic of China on Sep. 18, 2008, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a flush apparatus and, in particular, to a solar flush apparatus that uses a solar cell or a battery as a power source of the latching solenoid valve.

2. Related Art

The traditional automatic flush apparatus is applied to the automatic flush urinal or automatic scrubber, and it is designed to match the city electricity standards. Nevertheless, the electronic control circuits are still driven by direct current, so the city electricity, which is alternating current, must be transformed to the direct current for the electronic control circuits. It is commonly to use a converter to perform the voltage converting. Generally, the converter will consume a lot of energy. If the solenoid valve used in the alternating-current product is not a latching solenoid valve, the power consumption for keeping the solenoid valve open will be impressive.

Since the above-mentioned alternating-current flush apparatus needs a conventional converter, the cost and the volume thereof are increased. In addition, the assembling thereof is more difficult and complex than other products of the same model. Moreover, the building must have the preset power lines for installing the products later, so that this kind of products cannot be popularized.

Regarding to a direct-current automatic flush apparatus, the supplied power for this kind of products is the direct current, which is supplied by batteries. Although it is easy to install this product, the lifetime thereof is sufficiently restricted by the voltage of the battery. That is, the batteries must be replaced in a short time so as to remain the function of the flush apparatus. This will also produce a lot amount of drained batteries, which causes the pollution and load of the environment.

If the battery is a rechargeable battery, a battery charger with the converter is needed. Thus, the installation of the automatic flush apparatus is more difficult and complex than other products of the same model, and the preset power lines in the building are still needed for installing the automatic flush apparatus so the products cannot be popularized. Accordingly, the drawback of the automatic flush apparatus with the alternating-current power source can not be overcome.

In addition, the automatic flush apparatus with the direct-current power source usually cooperates with the latching solenoid valve, which has less power consumption, because the voltage of the used batteries is too small. The drawback of the latching solenoid valve is that there is no effective debugging method as the valve is failed (shut down or malfunctioned). If the solenoid valve can not accurately control to turn off the hydrant, the serious waste in water resource may occur and the difficulty for dealing with this problem is increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is to provide a flush apparatus that can use the power from a solar cell and a battery, which are connected to the power output terminal in parallel, so as to sufficiently increase the using time of the battery.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a flush apparatus that includes a solar cell, which can be used as a sensor, so that the solar cell and the traditional detecting unit can be used alternately so as to decrease the power consumption.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a flush apparatus including a power output terminal electrically connected to the driving circuit directly so as to prevent the damage of the control module caused by the counter-electromotive force (CEMF) generated by the solenoid valve.

Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a flush apparatus including a driving circuit for a structural solenoid valve.

To achieve the above objects, the present invention discloses a flush apparatus including a solenoid valve, a driving circuit, a battery, a solar cell and a control module. The driving circuit provides a driving power to the solenoid valve. The solar cell and the battery are electrically connected to a power output terminal in parallel. The power output terminal is electrically connected to the driving circuit directly for providing the driving power to the driving circuit. The control module is electrically connected to the driving circuit for providing at least one control signal to the driving circuit to control ON/OFF of the driving circuit.

When the solenoid valve is a structural solenoid valve, the driving circuit provides a pulse voltage to the solenoid valve to switch the solenoid valve. The driving circuit is a switch having a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal. The first terminal is electrically connected to the control module for receiving the control signal of the control module, the second terminal is directly connected to the power output terminal, and the third terminal is electrically connected to the solenoid valve.

As mentioned above, the flush apparatus of the present invention has the solar cell and the battery connected to the power output terminal in parallel for providing electricity to the flush apparatus, so that the using time of the battery can be sufficiently extended. In addition, the solar cell can be also used as the sensor, so that the solar cell and the traditional detecting unit can be alternately used so as to decrease the power consumption. The power output terminal is electrically connected to the driving circuit directly, so that the damage of the control module caused by the counter-electromotive force generated by the solenoid valve can be prevented. When the solenoid valve is a structural solenoid valve, the driving circuit can be a switch so that the power consumption for the entire flush apparatus can be reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the subsequent detailed description and accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration showing a flush apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a flush apparatus la of the present invention; and

FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic illustrations of different driving circuits for the flush apparatus of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same references relate to the same elements.

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration showing a flush apparatus 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The flush apparatus 1 includes a solar cell 11, a battery 12, a control module 13, a driving circuit 14, a solenoid valve 15 and a detecting unit 16.

The solenoid valve 15 is a switch of the flush apparatus 1. The driving circuit 14 is electrically connected to the solenoid valve 15 for providing a driving power to the solenoid valve 15 so as to drive the solenoid valve 15. The driving circuit 14 can be, for example but not limited to, a switch or a full-bridge circuit. The solar cell 11 and the battery 12 are electrically connected to a power output terminal V in parallel. The power output terminal V is electrically connected to the driving circuit 14 directly for providing the driving power to the driving circuit 14. The control module 13 is electrically connected to the driving circuit 14 for providing at least one control signal Sc to the driving circuit 14 to control ON/OFF of the driving circuit 14. The solenoid valve 15 can be controlled by the time period that the driving power passes through the driving circuit 14. The control module 13 includes a microcontroller.

In addition, the flush apparatus 1 further includes a diode 17. The solar cell 11 is electrically connected to the anode of the diode 17, and the cathode of the diode 17 is electrically connected to the power output terminal V for preventing the reverse current to the solar cell 11. The power output terminal V is also electrically connected to the control module 13 for providing electricity to the control module 13.

The flush apparatus 1 of the present invention is an automatic solar flush apparatus, which uses both of the solar cell 11 and battery 12 as the power supply. These two kinds of power sources can be cooperated to provide the electricity for the driving circuit 14 and the control module 13. When the environmental light illuminates the solar cell 11, the solar cell 11 can be charged so that the electromotive force (EMF) of the solar cell 11 as well as the voltage of the power output terminal V increases. When the voltage of the power output terminal V is greater than the EMF of the battery 12, the solar cell 11 becomes the major working power source for providing electricity to the control module 13 and the driving circuit 14 and charging the battery 12. When the environmental light is weak, the EMF of the solar cell 11 as well as the voltage of the power output terminal V is decreased. When the voltage of the power output terminal V is smaller than the EMF of the battery 12, the battery 12 can automatically become the major working power source for providing electricity. In this case, the solar cell 11 can charge the battery 12 or directly provide electricity to the loads, so that the battery 12 can provide the load stable and continuous power source.

The detecting unit 16 is electrically connected to the control module 13 for detecting whether a user exists or not in front of the flush apparatus 1 and then transmitting a detecting signal SD to the control module 13. The control module 13 outputs a control signal Sc to the driving circuit 14 according to the detecting signal SD so as to control the ON/OFF of the solenoid valve 15. In the embodiment, the detecting unit 16 can be an infrared detecting unit and include a transmitter 161 and a receiver 162. Taking an automatic flush urinal as an example, when the user starts to use the flush apparatus 1, the transmitter 161 transmits an infrared signal and the receiver 162 receives the infrared signal reflected by the user so as to determine that the user exists. Thereafter, when the user leaves, the receiver 162 can not receive the infrared signal reflected by the user, so that it is determined that the user has left. When the detecting unit 16 determines that the user has left, the control module 13 provides a control signal Sc to the driving circuit 14 to control the ON/OFF of the driving circuit so as to control a flushing time of the flush apparatus 1 according to a using time and/or a using frequency of the user.

The solar cell 11 can also be used as a sensor. The flush apparatus 1 further includes a switch S₀ and a resistor R. An output terminal N1 of the solar cell 11 is electrically connected to the switch S₀ and then electrically connected to the control module 13. One terminal of the resistor R is grounded, and the other terminal of the resistor R is electrically connected to a node N2 disposed between the switch So and the control module 13. The control module 13 controls the switch So to monitor the energy change of the solar cell 11, and whether the user is close to or left away from the flush apparatus 1 can be determined according to the voltage change of the node N2. Thus, the solar cell 11 can be used as the sensor. In the present invention, the solar cell 11 and the detecting unit 16 can be alternately used as the sensor so as to reduce the power consumption.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a flush apparatus 1 a of the present invention. In the embodiment, the solenoid valve 15 a is a structural solenoid valve, and the driving circuit 14 provides a pulse voltage to control the ON/OFF of the solenoid valve 15 a.

The driving circuit 14 is a switch S, which has a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal. The third terminal of the switch S is electrically connected to the solenoid valve 15 a, the second terminal of the switch S is directly connected to the power output terminal V, and the first terminal of the switch S is electrically connected to the control module 13 for receiving the control signal Sc of the control module 13 so as to control the ON/OFF of the switch S. The switch S can include a field effect transistor (FET) or a bipolar junction transistor (BJT).

As shown in FIG. 3A, a switch S₂ of the flush apparatus 1 b is composed of a FET and a diode. The drain of the FET is connected to a cathode of the diode, and the source of the FET is connected to an anode of the diode, so that the FET and the diode are connected in parallel. The source of the FET is electrically connected to the solenoid valve 15 a, the drain of the FET is electrically connected to the power output terminal V directly, and the gate of the FET is electrically connected to the control module 13 for receiving the control signal Sc of the control module 13, which can control the ON/OFF of the FET. When the control signal Sc drives the switch S₂, a pulse voltage is provided to the solenoid valve 15 a.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the difference between the flush apparatus 1 c and the flush apparatus 1 b of FIG. 3A is in that a switch S₃ of the flush apparatus 1 c includes a BJT. The emitter of the BJT is electrically connected to the solenoid valve 15 a, the collector of the BJT is electrically connected to the power output terminal V directly, and the base of the BJT is electrically connected to the control module 13 for receiving the control signal Sc of the control module 13, which can control the ON/OFF of the BJT. When the control signal Sc drives the switch S₃, a pulse voltage is provided to the solenoid valve 15 a.

When the driving circuit 14 is a full-bridge circuit, the solenoid valve 15 can be a latching solenoid valve. The latch of the latching solenoid valve 15 can be disposed at the lock or unlock position by controlling the current direction of the coil in the latching solenoid valve 15, thereby achieving the function of normal locking or normal unlocking. In this embodiment, the power output terminal V is electrically connected to a power source VDD of the full-bridge circuit directly. When the control module 13 provides at least one control signal Sc to the driving circuit 14, the ON/OFF of the driving circuit 14 can be controlled so as to control the flush time of the solenoid valve 15.

To sum up, the electricity of the flush apparatus of the present invention is provided by the solar cell and the battery, which are connected in parallel and then connected to the driving circuit and control module, etc. The solar cell can continuously apply electricity to the battery so as to extend the using time of the battery.

The detecting unit must be operated all the time. In the present invention, the solar cell can be used as a sensor, so that the solar cell and the detecting unit can be alternately used to decrease the power consumption.

The latching solenoid valve is an inductance component, so it will generate the counter-electromotive force (CEMF), which may damage the electronic elements. In the present invention, the power source is electrically connected to the driving circuit directly to provide the driving power to the solenoid valve without passing through the control module, so that the stability of the control module can be enhanced.

In addition, the present invention can utilize a structural solenoid valve, so the ON/OFF of the solenoid valve can be controlled by providing the pulse voltage in a single direction. This can greatly decrease the static current loss through the electronic components and wires. The response time of the structural solenoid valve is shorter than that of the conventional latching solenoid valve, so that the power consumption for the entire flush apparatus can be reduced.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover all modifications that fall within the true scope of the present invention. 

1. A flush apparatus comprising: a solenoid valve; a driving circuit for providing a driving power to the solenoid valve; a battery; a solar cell, wherein the solar cell and the battery are electrically connected to a power output terminal in parallel, and the power output terminal is directly electrically connected to the driving circuit for providing the driving power to the driving circuit; and a control module electrically connected to the driving circuit for providing at least one control signal to the driving circuit to control ON/OFF of the driving circuit.
 2. The flush apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flush apparatus is an automatic flush urinal and the control module further comprises a microcontroller.
 3. The flush apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power output terminal further electrically connected to the control module for providing a power to the control module.
 4. The flush apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a diode disposed between the solar cell and the power output terminal for preventing the current reverse from the battery back to the solar cell.
 5. The flush apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a detecting unit electrically connected to the control module for transmitting a detecting signal to the control module.
 6. The flush apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the detecting unit is an infrared detecting unit.
 7. The flush apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the detecting unit comprises a transmitter and a receiver, and when a user starts to use the flush apparatus, an infrared signal transmitted from the transmitter is reflected and received by the receiver.
 8. The flush apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a switch and a resistor, wherein an output of the solar cell is electrically connected to the switch and then electrically connected to the control module, one terminal of the resistor is grounded, the other terminal of the resistor is electrically connected to a node disposed between the switch and the control module, and the control module controls the switch to monitor the output voltage of the solar cell so that whether a user is close to or left away from the flush apparatus is determined according to the voltage change of the node.
 9. The flush apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control module provides the control signal to the driving circuit so as to control a flushing time of the flush apparatus according to a using time and/or a using frequency of a user.
 10. The flush apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the solar cell receives an environmental light so as to charge the solar cell.
 11. The flush apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when a voltage of the power output terminal is greater than an electromotive force (EMF) of the battery, the solar cell applies electricity to the control module and the driving circuit, and charges the battery; when a voltage of the power output terminal is lower than an electromotive force of the battery, the battery applies electricity to the control module and the driving circuit.
 12. The flush apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the solenoid valve is a structural solenoid valve, and the driving circuit provides a pulse voltage to the solenoid valve to switch the solenoid valve.
 13. The flush apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the driving circuit is a switch.
 14. The flush apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the switch has a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal, the first terminal is electrically connected to the control module for receiving the control signal of the control module, the second terminal is electrically connected to the power output terminal, and the third terminal is electrically connected to the solenoid valve.
 15. The flush apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the switch comprises a field effect transistor (FET) and a diode, and the first terminal is a gate of the field effect transistor for receiving the control signal, the second terminal is a drain of the FET electrically connected to the power output terminal and connected to a cathode of the diode in parallel, and the third terminal is a source of the FET electrically connected to the solenoid valve and connected to an anode of the diode in parallel.
 16. The flush apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the switch comprises a bipolar junction transistor (BJT), the first terminal is a base of the bipolar junction transistor, the second terminal is a collector of the bipolar junction transistor, and the third terminal is an emitter of the bipolar junction transistor.
 17. The flush apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the solenoid valve is a latching solenoid valve with a single coil so that the latching solenoid valve is switched by changing a current direction of the coil.
 18. The flush apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the driving circuit is a full-bridge circuit, the power output terminal is electrically connected to a power source terminal of the full-bridge circuit, and the control module provides a plurality of control signals to the full-bridge circuit so as to control the current direction of the full-bridge circuit. 